Thanks to all.
Not a great one for parties but arranged a get together in a local bar for friends, both Valencian and Brits from the village, and some from the Hash group I run with.
About 30 in total with beer, wine and tapas, so a good time was had by all.
You would not have thought that a lot happened to people born on December 23, except that most of us got only one present a year.
I have now met quite a few born on 23/12 and apart from the Spanish, who have presents on January 6, most have similar stories.
I spoke to David Eastburn on the 23/12 and he was waiting for news concerning the arrival of his first grandson.
My personal 23/12 bad luck stories include the facts that I spent my 4th birthday in hospital having my adenoids and tonsils out, and my 42nd, stuck in Panama during the US invasion.
This is contrasted by the fact that my Costa Rican in laws gave me 50 presents on my 50th. Nice tradition.
Anyway, Happy Christmas and New Year to all.

Our Rector's elder daughter - now 15 - shares your birthday John. Not the best of timings for a Vicarage family!

I had a colleague in the 80s, who was born on Christmas Day, the only treat for her birthday she remembered from her childhood was that she was let off the washing up! We were told this every year so it must have rankled!

I'd never heard of the 50 present tradition, did you manage 70 presents this year? I think it may be the Netherlands where at 50 you could be given Abraham, or Sarah, cards and parties to celebrate your longevity.

Katharine Dobson (Hills) 6.14, 1959 - 1965
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!

There are quite a few in the UK.
Some come and run with us on the Costa Blanca Hash when they are visiting and others, having run in Madrid, come back when the Madrid Hash have their annual Hash in Javea.

There are quite a few in the UK.
Some come and run with us on the Costa Blanca Hash when they are visiting and others, having run in Madrid, come back when the Madrid Hash have their annual Hash in Javea.

I remember the Islamabad one starting, however that was very definitely expatriate and started by somebody at the British Embassy*. It may have died later as the date given on John's link is long after we left Islamabad.

*Pakistan was out of the Commonwealth at the time so an Embassy not a High Commission.

Katharine Dobson (Hills) 6.14, 1959 - 1965
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!